MUMBAI: An AI-based genetic study by local scientists could help reduce premature births, a leading cause of infant deaths and disabilities.
Premature birth affects the growth and development of organs, including the brain, heart, lungs and liver. Babies born prematurely are more likely to have problems breathing, staying warm and feeding than babies born at full term, and are at higher risk of developmental delays.
Now, a first-of-its-kind study from India has found three microbes, three genes and three bacterial pathways that cause infection in the birth canal of pregnant women and increase the risk of premature birth.The study is a collaboration between the National Institute of Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Parel, the Department of Biomedical Informatics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, and the Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Noida.
In India, one in six babies are born prematurely and many of the causes are unknown. Several studies have shown that microbial infections in the vagina can lead to premature birth, but the type of microbes responsible are not well understood. “Our AI-based analysis has identified microbes and chemicals that may be responsible for premature birth,” said Dr Abhishek Sengupta of Amity Institute of Biotechnology, lead author of the study. One of the authors of the study, published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, is Dr Deepak Modi of NIRRCH, Parel.
To identify the most common bacteria causing vaginal infections, the team looked at global data from 3,757 women of different ethnicities. 966 samples were associated with preterm births, while the remaining 2,791 were from mothers who gave birth at full term.
“We then applied an artificial intelligence approach to discover several bacterial species that were more abundant in the bodies of women who had preterm birth,” the study authors said. Dr Sengupta said the team identified three microbes — Shuttleworthia, Megasphaera and Sneesia — that trigger the release of large amounts of certain chemicals that lead to preterm birth.
“The types of microbes that increased susceptibility varied depending on the country of origin,” Dr Sengupta said. For example, the bacterial makeup of women from European and African countries was different to that of Indian women.
The researchers believe that their AI approach will enable them to better analyze the data and find more microorganisms that cause premature birth. “We are developing AI-based software and kits that can be used by all women and their physicians to identify microorganisms that cause urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy-related complications,” they said.
Such applications could have a positive impact in India, where premature birth and low birth weight are currently the leading causes of newborn and infant mortality, with 3.5 million babies born prematurely each year and 300,000 children dying before the age of five due to complications from premature birth.
Premature birth affects the growth and development of organs, including the brain, heart, lungs and liver. Babies born prematurely are more likely to have problems breathing, staying warm and feeding than babies born at full term, and are at higher risk of developmental delays.
Now, a first-of-its-kind study from India has found three microbes, three genes and three bacterial pathways that cause infection in the birth canal of pregnant women and increase the risk of premature birth.The study is a collaboration between the National Institute of Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Parel, the Department of Biomedical Informatics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, and the Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Noida.
In India, one in six babies are born prematurely and many of the causes are unknown. Several studies have shown that microbial infections in the vagina can lead to premature birth, but the type of microbes responsible are not well understood. “Our AI-based analysis has identified microbes and chemicals that may be responsible for premature birth,” said Dr Abhishek Sengupta of Amity Institute of Biotechnology, lead author of the study. One of the authors of the study, published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, is Dr Deepak Modi of NIRRCH, Parel.
To identify the most common bacteria causing vaginal infections, the team looked at global data from 3,757 women of different ethnicities. 966 samples were associated with preterm births, while the remaining 2,791 were from mothers who gave birth at full term.
“We then applied an artificial intelligence approach to discover several bacterial species that were more abundant in the bodies of women who had preterm birth,” the study authors said. Dr Sengupta said the team identified three microbes — Shuttleworthia, Megasphaera and Sneesia — that trigger the release of large amounts of certain chemicals that lead to preterm birth.
“The types of microbes that increased susceptibility varied depending on the country of origin,” Dr Sengupta said. For example, the bacterial makeup of women from European and African countries was different to that of Indian women.
The researchers believe that their AI approach will enable them to better analyze the data and find more microorganisms that cause premature birth. “We are developing AI-based software and kits that can be used by all women and their physicians to identify microorganisms that cause urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy-related complications,” they said.
Such applications could have a positive impact in India, where premature birth and low birth weight are currently the leading causes of newborn and infant mortality, with 3.5 million babies born prematurely each year and 300,000 children dying before the age of five due to complications from premature birth.
